By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MARTIN, Tenn. – Monday was a great homecoming for Anna Jones as the Jackson native put on a show, leading the Tennessee Tech women to their sixth straight win and 11th in the last 13, topping UT Martin 67-56 at the Elam Center.
Jones went 9-for-12 from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 from long range and 4-for-6 from the free-throw line as she scored a season-high 25 points to lead all scorers. Tech's towering presence of Anna Walker and Mackenzie Coleman also had great games – Walker had 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting with a 3-pointer and three made free-throws, while Coleman was 5-for-8 from the floor with a 3-pointer and two made free-throws for 13 points.
Jones also completed her third career double-double as she pulled down 12 rebounds. It's the second double-double in three games for Jones, who also had one last Monday at home against Eastern Illinois.
Paige Pipkin led the Skyhawks (5-14, 2-6 Ohio Valley Conference) with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while Seygan Robins and Kyannah Grant each had 11 points.
UTM was 21-for-48 from the field, shooting 43 percent for the game. The Skyhawks struggled from long range, knocking down just two of their 12 3-point tries. UTM was 12-for-16 at the line, hitting 75 percent.
The Golden Eagles (13-7, 8-2 OVC) were 23-for-51 from the field for a 45.1 percent rate. Tech was 5-for-14 from beyond the arc and 16-for-25 at the stripe. The boards were dominated by the Golden Eagles 34-27 as Coleman added seven caroms to go along with Jones' 12. Holly Forbes led UTM on the glass with nine rebounds.
Walker and Maaliya Owens also challenged the Skyhawk offense as Walker blocked three shots, Owens two more.
After a 8-7 Martin lead with 4:38 remaining in the first quarter, Tech went on a 10-0 run for a 17-10 advantage and ended the opening period up 17-12. The Skyhawks never led again.
Neither team scored for nearly the first three minutes of the second quarter as Pipken ended the drought at 7:02. Her free throws made it a 17-14 game, then after Tech stretched the lead back out to six, Martin cut the game back to a two-point, 20-18 deficit with 5:44 remaining in the half. The Skyhawks cut it back to two points twice more before intermission, but Jones and Kesha Brady scored buckets in the final minute to take a 34-28 lead into the locker room.
Tech climbed out by 15 points with 1:13 left in the quarter using a 17-8 run to lead 51-36. The Golden Eagles outscored UTM 19-12 in the third, but the closest the Skyhawks were able to climb back within reach was seven before time ran out.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Thursday as they travel to Morehead State for the first game of a women's/men's doubleheader. The women's game tips off at 4 p.m. Central.
Photo | Alex Boggis, UTM Media Relations